Food, Family, Faith, and Fun — all wrapped up in one!
My mom was the master of frugality. We lived on a shoestring during the year so that we could travel during the summer. We had amazing adventures on school teacher savings! Even though Mom did not enjoy cooking, and I grew up during the 60’s and 70’s when processed foods were pushed on families, we … Read more Mint Chip Meringues
Some times using recipes from generations ago result in simple delights. I have often heard that sugar cookies are the most uncomplicated and basic cookie, but I’ve only made them from scratch once. They were an epic failure — dry, crumbly, tasteless, and basically unappetizing. And using gluten free flour just made the disaster more … Read more Gluten Free Toffee Bars
This past summer my Swedish parents both turned 90 years old. They had “adopted” me 40 years ago while I was living in Sweden and attending graduate school. I return almost yearly to visit them, and count it a huge honor to be part of their family. In preparation for their birthday celebration, I was … Read more Lemon Curd
I have never enjoyed baking — too much measuring, math and accuracy is required, and it feels a little restrictive to me. Cooking is more free-form, while baking requires that I follow the rules in order to be successful. That’s where my rebellious nature kicks in:
“Don’t tell me what to do!”
One of the first gardens I planted was filled with every black flower I could find. This was somewhat of a fad during the Victorian era, which I find intriguing. Can you imagine elegant women in long, floofy dresses tending gardens? That might be as difficult as imagining ME working in flowerbeds. But I tried.
Long ago and far away I had large glass jars with dry mixes for everything – waffles, soups, muffins, hot cocoa, pudding, etc. Days spent at the farm with little kids under foot were made simpler that way, and edible gifts were created in pretty canning jars with the “help” of said kids.
That title may be a mouthful, but you will not be happy until your mouth is filled with these tender, tasty ginger cookies! My Grandma Sally was probably the strongest-willed, most stubborn, and frugal woman on the planet. Immigrating alone from Sweden to Minneapolis in the late-1920’s and then raising 3 boys through the Great … Read more Grandma Sally’s Soft Gluten Free Ginger Cookies
Yup! This is totally happening right now! This year may have been unpredictable, challenging, and downright weird, but Bailey’s released their own chocolate chips! I hear angels singing! My favorite dessert cocktail is the “iron butterfly”, which is vodka, Kalua, and Bailey’s. If I were to choose a favorite milkshake, it would be a “mudslide”, … Read more Bailey’s Fudge
I like to daydream about winning the lottery — how I would choose to spend and give away the money, and how winning wouldn’t change who I am. But alas, I’ve never purchased a lottery ticket in my life. And record Power Ball winnings pale in comparison to these little gems!
Saturday. Sleeping late. Brunch. Family. Relaxing. Traditions. I’m all over that! At the end of a crazy, stressful week, there just isn’t anything better than a calm morning with delicious treats.
